New Zealand police believe they have found the body of missing British backpacker Grace Millane.
Officers on Sunday were combing an area of bush near a road in the western outskirts of Auckland - about 25km from where the 22-year-old tourist was last spotted entering a central city hotel with a man on December 1.
Remains found at the scene had not been formally identified but were believed to be those of Ms Millane, Detective Inspector Scott Beard told the media on Sunday afternoon.
"Obviously, this brings the search for Grace to an end. It is an unbearable time for the Millane family and our hearts go out to them," he told reporters near the scene.
CCTV image from December 1 shows the last known sighting of Grace Millane whose 22nd birthday was the next day. Source: AAP
"The investigation will continue for some time yet. The focus now is to piece together exactly what happened to a young girl who came to New Zealand."
A post-mortem is expected to be carried out on Monday.
"We will be pleased to be giving Grace back to her family," Det Insp Beard said.
Police said a 26-year-old man seen with Ms Millane on the night of her disappearance had been charged with her murder and would appear in Auckland District Court on Monday.
Detectives have made an appeal for sightings of a red Toyota hatchback they say was rented in Auckland.
A week-long search for the Essex woman turned into a homicide probe this weekend, with officers earlier saying a scene examination at the CityLife Hotel and video footage had concluded she was no longer alive.
NZ Police trying to piece together Grace's movements released a picture of a 2016 red Toyota Corolla hatchback. Source: Facebook @NZPolice
Ms Millane was on the second leg of a year-long trip around the world after graduating university.
After visiting Peru, she arrived alone in New Zealand last month and had been in touch with family and friends nearly daily until her disappearance.
Her father, David Millane, arrived in NZ on Friday, and made an emotional public appeal for help in finding Grace, who he described as a "lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-orientated daughter".
From trip of a lifetime to tragedy
- November 20: The Lincoln University graduate arrives in New Zealand, having visited Peru on the first leg of her travels.
- November 30: Posts her last tweet, quipping: "I think travelling has changed me I just brought some blue jeans."
- December 1, around 7pm: Seen on Victoria Street in central Auckland.
- December 1, 7.15pm: Seen on CCTV at Sky City, an entertainment complex and casino on Victoria Street.
- December 1, 9.41pm: Seen at the CityLife Hotel on Queen Street, around 250m from Sky City, with a "male companion".
- December 2: Millane's 22nd birthday.
- December 2, just before noon: A red Toyota Corolla hatchback is hired from a central Auckland rental firm.
- December 3, between 6.30am and 9.30am: The car is thought to have been driven in western Auckland.
- December 5: Millane is reported missing to City of Auckland Police.
- December 6: Police appeal for the public's help finding the backpacker.
- December 7: After arriving in Auckland her father, David Millane, makes an emotional plea for help finding his daughter. Police reveal they have spoken to the male companion and he is a person of interest. The man was not taken into custody and police said there was no evidence of foul play.
- December 8, 3pm: A 26-year-old man is taken into custody at a central Auckland address by police.
- December 8, 5pm: Police announce that they have obtained evidence that suggests Millane has been killed and they have seized a "vehicle of interest" in Taupo, a town around 273km from Auckland.
- December 8, evening: Detectives charge the suspect with Millane's murder.
- December 8, evening: Police identify a "place of interest" on Scenic Drive, a road in the wooded Waitakere Ranges.
- December 9: Police announce they are searching an area on Scenic Drive, near the Waitakere Reservoir.
- December 9, shortly after 4pm: Police find a body they believe to be Millane in vegetation around 10m from the road.
